CEDAR CITY (AP) -- Iron County prosecutors are recommending restitution but no jail time for three men involved in the Oracle Films scheme that allegedly bilked almost $300,000 from 38 area residents.
Oracle Film President David Harold Evans and his employees Gary Messer and Tracy Feltner were arrested in December 1998 and accused of soliciting investments for a film that was never made.The three entered no-contest pleas last week and are to be sentenced Aug. 27 by Judge James Shumate.
For more than two years, Oracle solicited investments for a film called "The Latch Key Kid." The men allegedly claimed the film would star veteran actor Gordon Jump and reap large profits for investors with no risk.
Evans, 44, pleaded no contest on July 13 to a second-degree felony for employing an unregistered agent, Feltner, and securities fraud.
The office of County Attorney Scott Burns recommends Evans not receive any jail time provided he makes timely and monthly restitution payments to all of the victims.
Charges against Evans would be reduced from second- to third-degree felonies without objection by the prosecution.
Feltner, 29, pleaded no contest to two counts of third-degree felony securities fraud. Messer, 43, pleaded no contest to two counts of third-degree felony securities fraud.
The prosecution recommends they also receive no jail time as long as they make restitution.